KIPP Miami is seeking a dynamic leader to serve as the founding Director of Operations for KIPP Miami’s first elementary school. The Director of Operations (DOO), reporting to the School Leader, is a senior, school-based leadership role that oversees all finance and operations functions necessary to run a high performing school.

The DOO will be in charge of bringing the vision of the first KIPP elementary school in Miami to life. The role entails establishing systems based on the experience of KIPP schools throughout the country, being flexible with an ever-changing environment and leveraging problem solving skills to tackle everyday challenges faced at the school. As a key member of the leadership team at KIPP Miami’s first school, this role requires working directly with the Miami-Dade County Public Schools office and other outside partners, so relationship building and interpersonal skills are critical to success.

The DOO position includes budgeting, purchasing, facilities, food services, transportation, technology, student recruitment, student data, regulatory compliance, human resource administration, and academic operations support. The Director of Operations serves as a key member of the school’s leadership team to ensure that the school’s operations meet high standards of excellence and to position instructional leaders and staff to focus on driving strong student achievement outcomes.

Context: KIPP Miami

KIPP is a non-profit network of college-preparatory, public charter schools educating 80,000 elementary, middle, and high school students in 200 schools across the country.

KIPP Miami is a new region and the first elementary school will set the pace for excellence and lay the foundation for school-based structures across the region. Over the long term, KIPP Miami plans to serve students from grades K-12 in multiple schools across the city.

Regional and School Mission/Vision

KIPP Miami Schools Mission

KIPP Miami Public Schools seek to create and sustain a high achieving and inspiring community schools that battles inequity by empowering students to develop the skills, character strengths, and habits to thrive in college and beyond, shape their futures, and positively impact the world.

KIPP Miami Elementary School

At KIPP Miami’s elementary school, we will seek to unleash the power, passion and wisdom within each student so their light can shine brightly. Students’ light will make them the future citizens and equity leaders of our local and global communities. KIPPsters honor themselves, their families and their communities by critically questioning, innovating and solving the problems of tomorrow. Students believe in the “beautiful struggle” – the belief every challenge is a ray of opportunity. KIPPsters seek excellence, hope and joy in all that they do because they know education will give them the power, opportunities and freedom to change their world and their place within it and will light the path for others to do the same.

Key Responsibilities

School Operations Leadership & Operations Team Management

In partnership with the School Leader, develops the school-wide operations vision that supports and operationalizes the academic and cultural vision of the school

Plays a leadership role in the school’s strategic and annual planning and budgeting process

Hires, manages, coaches, and develops school operations team members (including front office staff and vendors) and holds them accountable to goals and outcomes

Serves as the primary point of contact for Miami-Dade County Public Schools, responding to requests and collaborating the district to create scalable, region-wide systems, policies, and procedures

Finance & Purchasing

Works closely with the principal to develop the school’s annual budget to bring a vision to life and actively manages the school budget throughout the year

Manages the school purchasing process by establishing clear systems for staff to request items, placing orders with vendors, tracking delivery, and coding and submitting purchases orders, invoices, and reimbursement requests; approves school purchases under a specific financial threshold

Serves as the first school-based point of contact regarding finance and works with Miami-Dade County Public Schools to ensure financial compliance and reporting

Ensures that students and staff have access to needed technology and works with Tech Team to plan technology related enhancements

Leads the school opening/start up process each year to ensure that doors are ready to open by ordering furniture, equipment, instructional supplies, and ensuring that student services (e.g. food service, transportation) are ready to go

Manages systems for and maintains accurate student data and information in compliance with federal, state, regional and school expectations

Works with the principal or AP to manage the logistical elements of all major student assessments

Manages logistics of report cards, progress reports and transcripts

Student Recruitment & Enrollment

Develops and manages student recruitment strategy to ensure that the school begins the academic year with full classes and actively recruits to fill open seats

Ensures that parent info sessions, school tours, and the lottery and enrollment process are tightly planned and executed

Risk Management, Compliance, and HR Administration

Ensure that the school is prepared for emergencies by conducting all drills and training staff on emergency plans

Partners with HR and recruitment staff to guide the new hire process (e.g., interviews, new hire offer letters, onboarding)

Ensures that school staff members have complete, current, and accurate employee files and certifications; all personnel interacting with students have background checks on file; and schools comply with all areas of legal compliance (e.g., HR, FERPA)

Completes the exit form for terminating employees and partners with the regional human resources team on any action items surrounding the exit logistics

Reviews time-off data provided by the human resources team to ensure accuracy and assess leave trends

Communicates leave needs and critical dates to the human resources team and assists in facilitation of employee leaves

Qualifications

Bachelor’s degree required; graduate degree preferred

3 to 7 years of work experience, preferably in education and/or business or operations management

Fluency in Spanish and/or Haitian Creole preferred

Demonstrated management and leadership skills (e.g., 2 or more years managing a team or multiple large projects)

Strong project and time management skills; ability to effectively backwards plan, juggle multiple priorities with great attention to detail, and deliver consistent and timely results

Strong strategic and analytical skills with an aptitude for shifting from fire-fighting to systems-building

Sense of humility, customer service mindset, and shows urgency and the ability to proactively solve problems and make decisions quickly

Team player with strong interpersonal and stakeholder management and relationship building skills

Ability to lead, influence, and hold others accountable to upholding high standards of operational excellence

High level of comfort with financial oversight and budgetary tracking

Ability to be calm under pressure, especially in difficult conversations with parents and staff

Excellent organizational, verbal, and written communication skills

Excellent computer skills, including Microsoft Word, Microsoft Power Point and Microsoft Excel

Desire to continuously learn and increase effectiveness as a professional

Unwavering commitment to KIPP’s mission and willingness to go above and beyond to meet the needs of KIPP students, families, and staff